Menstrual sponge



May s. 1928. v 1,669,295

A. HALLENBERG MENSTRUAL SPONGE Filed m. 21. 1927 ifll'llllillllllllli Y INVENTOR WITNESSES Rlbexh .HuIlQTI-berq ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HALLENBERG, OI FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.

unnsrnuar. sronen.

Application filed Ianuary 21', 1927. Serial No. 182,588.

This invention relates to a menstrual sponge.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device for more efficiently controlling l the menstrual flow and in a more sanitary and more comfortable manner to the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compact, simple and unitary device for controlling the menstrual flow, ldwhich device will eliminate the use of belts worn around'the waist for supporting unsanitary napkins, and thus eliminate the use of napkins upon which the menstrual flow dries thereby causing chafing of the body 1 of the wearer.

A further object of theinvention the provision of a device for controlling the menstrual flow and for ready application to the outer portion of the vagina, the device being of such a simple character and being cheaply constructed may be readily replaced at a reasonable cost so that after the device has served the purpose it may be discarded tailed description, in view of the accompanying drawin forming a part of the specification; nevert elessit is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and themodifications which shall define not order that material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the ap-' pended claim.

Figure 1 is anenlarged view in perspec- 4 tive of the device.

'Figure 2 is a vertical section of the device. Referring more particularly-to the drawings, 10 generally. designatesjthedevice for controlling the menstrual new, thedevicebe' formed of such material that it, will not injure the, tissues but capable of neatly fitting and conforming-to the interior serted in walls of the passage to which it is applied thereby providing a seal to prevent the discharge of the menstrual flow. Furthermore, the material forming the device is of such a character that it will adapt itself to the irregularities of the passage and thus be re tained against accidental loss.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2,

it will be seen that main body portion 11 of the device'is' formed of some absorbent material and built around a central wellor cavity 12. The well is isolated from the body-11 by a cylinder 13 of non-absorbent material closed at the inner end thereof as shown at 14. Y

The upper end of the cylinder 13 is open at 15 and the material forming the cylinder is rolled around the upper annular end 16 of the body 11 to provide an inverted channelshaped ring 17 having an external depending flange 18 embracing the upper outer wall of the body 11.

The body is of cylindrical formation and has the lower end 19 rounded to facilitate insertion of the device into the outer endof the vagina. The body is'not only formed of absorbent material but is capable of being compressed. Furthermore the absorbent ma-. terial being compressible is capable of tending to re in the normal cylindrical shape so that t e device will, when expanding, exert a slight pressure against the walls of the vagina'and prevent the accidental discharge of the device from its position. v

A tape 20 is folded upon itself to forman annulus and the ends of the tape are secured to the inner end 14 of the sheath or cylinder 13. The annulus is of suflicient length that a looped portion 21 will progress beyond the open end 15 of the well 12 in said looped portion may be grasped by the fingers for removal. 1

In applying the device. the finger is. in-

the well 12 so that the end of the finger will rest on the closed end 14 of the cylinder 13. The rounded end 19 of theis then fitted into the outer end ofjthe: vagina, Suflicient pressure is then ap lied 'on the device through the finger inse into the well 12 until the device is fitted into place. In such a position as shown in Figare 1 the non-absorbent ring 17 projects.

slightly be 0nd the outer portion of the vagina. e loop 21 projects beyond the open mouth of the well 12 so that it ma be readily grasped by the index finger an re- 5 moved when desired.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a body portion formed of absorbent material and having a central cavity closed at one end, a sheath formed of non-absorbent 10 material and embracing the wall of the cavity, said sheath projecting beyond the open end of the cavity and expanded over the adjacent portion of the body portion, a tape connected to the inner end of the sheath for 15 aiding in removing the body portion from a fixed position in a passage.

ALBERT HALLENBERG. 

